Written Answers Thursday 1 June 2006

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialist neonatal ambulances there are in Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: There are currently five specialist neonatal ambulances in Scotland. These vehicles have been specifically designed for the neonatal transport service and tailored to meet the needs of newborn babies and the medical staff. We believe that they are currently the most sophisticated ambulances operating in the UK.

Angling

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people participated in recreational sea angling in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is not held centrally.

Autism

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with an autistic spectrum disorder were excluded, either permanently or temporarily, from their school in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by local authority.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally for each of the years specified. However, the following table provides the data for 2003-04 and 2004-05.

  Exclusions1 Among Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as their Main Difficulty of Learning, 2003-04 and 2004-05 Data Refers to Actual Numbers of Pupils Excluded, Not Cases Of Exclusion

  

 
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen City
5
6


Aberdeenshire
5
6


Angus
-
*


Argyll and Bute
*
*


Clackmannanshire
-
-


Dumfries and Galloway
*
6


Dundee City
*
6


East Ayrshire
*
-


East Dunbartonshire
-
-


East Lothian
-
-


East Renfrewshire
-
*


Edinburgh, City of
*
8


Eilean Siar
-
-


Falkirk
-
*


Fife
9
9


Glasgow City
*
8


Highland
*
*


Inverclyde
*
*


Midlothian
-
*


Moray
-
*


North Ayrshire
-
-


North Lanarkshire
6
6


Orkney Islands
*
*


Perth and Kinross
*
-


Renfrewshire
*
5


Scottish Borders
-
*


Shetland Islands
-
*


South Ayrshire
-
-


South Lanarkshire
-
-


Stirling
*
*


West Dunbartonshire
-
*


West Lothian
*
*


All Local Authorities
58
90



  Notes:

  *Indicates a value less than five.

  1. Includes both temporary exclusions and removals from register.

Autism

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of providing training in the treatment of autism in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by NHS board.

Lewis Macdonald: There are a range of therapies and interventions for managing autism spectrum disorders and the SIGN guideline currently being developed will contain recommendations for effective interventions based on current evidence.

  Information about the costs of training in this range of interventions is not held centrally.

Autism

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of providing training in the diagnosis of autism in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by NHS board.

Lewis Macdonald: Information about the costs of training in the diagnosis of autism is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Executive is supporting four training pilot projects in the use of diagnostic tools to develop expertise in diagnosis across a wider range of professionals.

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25354 by Mr Andy Kerr on 28 April 2006 and as part of the studies listed as evidence of MMR safety, how many autistic children underwent (a) clinical examinations, (b) comprehensive gastro-enterological investigations, (c) blood tests, (d) urine tests and (e) stool tests and how many similar tests were carried out in total on both autistic children and controls as part of the research papers referred to in the answer.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not centrally held. All relevant information on the children in the studies listed in the answer to question S2W-25354 is available from the studies themselves.

Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will treat debt owed to credit unions as a priority debt in a protected trust deed following enactment of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill.

Allan Wilson: The Executive considers that all creditors should in general be treated equally in an insolvency process such as a trust deed, including credit union creditors. There is therefore no plan to treat debt due to credit unions as a priority debt.

Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether debt owed to a credit union will be treated in the same way as debt owed to the Student Loans Company following enactment of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill.

Allan Wilson: Student loans are not made on a commercial basis, and individual risk is not assessed. They are long-term loans made from public funds in accordance with eligibility criteria set out in legislation, and therefore the Student Loans Company administers and collects public debt.

  Credit unions offer a valuable service, but they compete in the open market. Loans are made on a commercial basis, and are often short-term. Credit unions assess the risk of the borrower not paying the debt in the same way as other private lenders. There is therefore no direct comparison between credit unions and the Student Loans Company.

  The Executive does not consider that a compelling case has been made out for treating debt owed to credit unions in the same way as debt owed to the Student Loans Company. There are therefore no plans to make any provision to that effect in the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Bill.

Blood Transfusion Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with the US Government or officials of the state of Arkansas to establish (a) how HIV and hepatitis C-infected blood extracted from prisoners in Arkansas came to be used in medical procedures in Scottish hospitals and (b) whether the governor of the state at the time when blood, subsequently discovered to have been infected with HIV and hepatitis C, was extracted from prisoners in that state was aware that this blood was infected.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive has not communicated with the US Government or State representatives on these issues. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has confirmed that it did not import plasma from Arkansas prisoners.

Blood Transfusion Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought compensation from the state of Arkansas for providing HIV and hepatitis C-infected blood from prisoners for use in medical procedures in Scottish hospitals.

Mr Andy Kerr: Further to the answer to question S2W-26034 on 1 June 2006, the Executive has not sought compensation from the state of Arkansas since the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service did not import plasma from Arkansas prisoners. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Central Heating Programme

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Communities on 14 March 2006 that the central heating programme and the Warm Deal scheme are to be extended until 2008, what additional resources have been committed in order to fund applications made between April 2006 and March 2008.

Malcolm Chisholm: The 2004 spending review allocated £102,388,000 for fuel poverty programmes over 2006-08. My recent announcement indicated how that resource would be targeted.

Civil Servants

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs there are in (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow, (c) Aberdeen, (d) Dundee and (e) Inverness, also expressed as a percentage of the workforce in each of these locations.

Mr Tom McCabe: The number of permanent staff employed in the core departments of the Scottish Executive, Executive agencies and associated departments in each of the cities, also expressed as a percentage of the working age population, is shown in the following table:

  

 
City
SE Staff
% of Workforce*


(a)
Edinburgh
7,748.2
2.51%


(b)
Glasgow
2,399.5
0.63%


(c)
Aberdeen
551.6
0.41%


(d)
Dundee
185.7
0.21%


(e)
Inverness
282.5
N/A



  Note: *The workforce figures are based on the working age populations provided by GRO(S). These are produced by local authority area. Comparable figures for working age population in Inverness are not available.

Data Protection Act 1998

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests were made to it under the Data Protection Act 1998 in each month since January 2002.

Mr Tom McCabe: Figures for Subject Access Requests received by Scottish Executive under the Data Protection Act 1998 over the period specified are as follows:

  


Month 


2002


2003


2004


2005


2006



January 

1 

3 

1 

4 

5 



February 

1 

2 

0 

0 

4 



March 

1 

3 

1 

3 

4 



April 

2 

0 

1 

5 

3 



May 

0 

1 

1 

3 

0 



June 

3 

0 

0 

4  

0  



July 

1 

3 

22 

2 

0 



August 

0 

0 

1 

6 

0 



September 

0 

0 

0 

8 

0 



October 

2 

1 

2 

7 

0 



November 

1 

0 

1 

6 

0 



December 

2 

0 

1 

6 

0 



Total 

14 

13 

31 

54 

16 (to date)

Disclosure Scotland

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to Disclosure Scotland have been from individuals who have already received a disclosure certificate.

Cathy Jamieson: Since Disclosure Scotland began operating in April 2002, 1,551,084 criminal record checks have been carried out. It is estimated that 480,836 checks (31%) have been for individuals who have already had a check carried out.

Disclosure Scotland

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to Disclosure Scotland have been made in each year since 2002; of these, how many were paid for by the organisation making the application, and what the annual income has been from disclosure applications.

Cathy Jamieson: Between 29 April 2002 and 30 April 2006, Disclosure Scotland received 1,551,084 applications as set out in the following table. The income for each year is also included in the table. The fee rose from £13.60 to £20 at 1 April 2006.

  Applications are made by individuals, not organisations.

  

 
Basic Disclosure
Standard/Enhanced Disclosure
Total
Total Income


April to December 2002
649
92,815
93,464
£1,271,110


January to December 2003
94,684
218,298
312,982
£4,256,555


January to December 2004
211,220
249,962
461,182
£6,272,075


January to December 2005
175,911
314,323
490,234
£6,667,182


January to March 2006
67,130
82,225
149,355
£2,031,228


April 2006
20,095
23,772
43,867
£877,340


 
 
 
 
£21,375,491

Drug Misuse

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to act on any of the recommendations set out in the recent Rowntree Foundation report on drug misuse.

Cathy Jamieson: The Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report on Drug Consumption Rooms , published on 23 May, recommended that pilot drug consumption rooms should be set up in the UK.

  We have no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms in Scotland. However, we will continue to monitor evidence about the impact of these facilities elsewhere.

Education

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities that are experiencing an increasing school population.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has regular meetings with local authorities on a range of education issues, during which discussion may touch on both increasing and decreasing pupil populations, according to local circumstances.

Education

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Dundee City Council to discuss proposals for investment in city schools.

Peter Peacock: There was a meeting of officials on 18 August 2005 to discuss the council’s school estate management plan, and an official attends meetings of the council’s schools PPP project board.

Education

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent under the Sure Start Scotland programme in (a) Dundee, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire since 1999.

Robert Brown: Since 1999, Dundee, Angus and Aberdeenshire have received £7,704,000; £4,420,000 and £8,939,000 respectively under the Sure Start Scotland programme.

Emergency Planning

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to review the preparedness of the emergency services and other local responders to deal with simultaneous major incidents.

Cathy Jamieson: It is vital that Scotland’s emergency services and other organisations with responsibilities for dealing with civil contingencies are properly prepared to deal with such incidents. A great deal of work has already been done, flowing from the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to respond to a range of risks and I commend the contribution made by the emergency planning community. But in the light of the terrorist attacks on London in July 2005 and other recent emergencies, it is right that we should take stock of Scotland’s ability to respond to simultaneous major incidents, particularly those which occur across administrative borders or require a multi-agency response.

  The review will be conducted by officials from my department and HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services Jeff Ord. It will be consultative and wide-ranging: the review team will hold discussions with all key stakeholders over the coming months and report to ministers in the summer of 2007. In the context of assessing overall preparedness, the review will consider the potential for increased collaboration between the emergency services and other responders, the lessons learned from the London bombings of July 2005, and the future of fire control rooms. I am today publishing two documents which stakeholders will be asked to consider and discuss with the review team: a report by HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services on the preparedness of the Fire and Rescue Service to deal with simultaneous terrorist attacks like those in London, and an analysis by my officials of the main concerns expressed by respondents to our 2004 consultation exercise on the future of fire control rooms. Both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 39661 and 39662) and on the Scottish Executive website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/18155955 and www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/18155521.

Employment

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, further to the answers to questions to S2W-9099 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 June 2004 and S2W-17703 by Nicol Stephen on 29 July 2005 which indicate that between 1997 and 2004 there were increases of 97,000 private sector jobs and 57,000 public sector jobs in Scotland, it will explain any discrepancy between these figures and those quoted in UK Competitiveness Index 2005, published by Dr Robert Huggins of the University of Sheffield, which state that between 1997 and 2004 there were increases of 35,000 private sector jobs and 121,000 public sector jobs.

Nicol Stephen: The discrepancies arise from using different time periods and, more significantly, using different definitions of the "public sector". The preferred approach is based on the internationally agreed national accounts definition that is now used by the Office of National Statistics and by the Executive for its quarterly Public Sector Employment in Scotland series.

  The statistics used in S2W-9099 and S2W-17703 were taken from the Labour Force Survey and at the time the written parliamentary questions were answered provided the best source of data. They have now been superseded by the Executive’s data.

  Finally, the statistics quoted by Dr Robert Huggins in his UK Competitiveness Indicators are based on employment in the public admin, education and health sector which includes people working for private sector organisations.

Employment

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the figures quoted in UK Competitiveness Index 2005, published by Dr Robert Huggins of the University of Sheffield, showing that between 1997 and 2004 there were increases of 35,000 private sector jobs and 121,000 public sector jobs in Scotland are correct.

Nicol Stephen: The UK Competitiveness Index 2005 does not use the standard definition of the public sector employed by the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish Executive.

  For more information I refer the member to the answer question S2W-23610 on 1 June 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the development and operation of the proposed net servicing station at Stromeferry will comply with the requirements of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Environment and Rural Development Department are of the opinion that the proposed activity does not fall within the scope of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003. The developer has described a process whereby there will be absolutely no discharge of either wash water (associated with net washings) or any discharge of contaminated surface water collecting within sealed areas, to any water body and therefore there are no controlled activities to be regulated under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of whether the development and operation of the proposed net servicing station at Stromeferry poses any threat to the health of the local population.

Rhona Brankin: None. Responsibility for assessing what impact the proposed net servicing station at Stromeferry might have on public health rests, in the first instance, with the local planning authority, Highland Council. The council has consulted the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) about this proposal. Given that there is no proposal to discharge any waste waters or contaminated surface waters from the site, and the proposals for disposing waste from the site, SEPA did not object to the planning application. SEPA has not identified any risks to the health of the local population or significant risk to the environment from this proposed development.

Firearms

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards more secure recording of licensed firearms.

Cathy Jamieson: Firearms legislation is reserved but the processing and recording of firearms licences is a matter for the police. Scottish forces have had a firearms database that is compliant with section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 since February 2006.

Firearms

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have had firearm licences withdrawn in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: The numbers of firearms licences revoked are given in tables 2a and 5a, for firearms and shotguns respectively, of the statistical bulletin Firearms Certificates Statistics , Scotland, 2005 , copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39665). The bulletin can also be found on the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00505 .

Flood Prevention

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16149 by Lewis Macdonald on 5 May 2005, when it will publish a public consultation on the definition and principles of sustainable flood management.

Rhona Brankin: A pilot study to evaluate the work on defining sustainable flood management was completed in autumn 2005 and included input from a range of stakeholders to represent the wider flooding community. The original paper What is sustainable flood management?, which introduced the draft definition, objectives, principles and measurable indicators, has now been modified to take account of the findings of the pilot study. A revised paper can be found on the Flooding Issues Advisory Committee (FIAC) website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1223/0028633.pdf , and will form the basis of a public consultation this summer.

Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the guidance issued to schools in respect of holding prescription drugs was last updated.

Lewis Macdonald: Guidance on the storage of prescription drugs in schools is set out in the Executive document The Administration of Medicines in Schools . The guidance has not been updated since it was distributed in 2001.

  Implementation of the guidance is monitored by officials in both the Health and Education departments.

Health

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive when the recommendations from the NHS Review of Wheelchair and Special Seating Services in Scotland will be published.

Lewis Macdonald: The final report will be published later this month.

Health

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what sleep aids are recommended for use by babies with postural plagiocephaly.

Lewis Macdonald: Sleep aids are not recommended for use by babies with postural plagiocephaly.

  The current advice is to place babies on their back to sleep, positioning the child’s head on different sides each night.

Health

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what sleep aids for use by babies with postural plagiocephaly are fully funded by the NHS.

Lewis Macdonald: Sleep aids for use by babies with postural plagiocephaly are not recommended and are therefore not available on the NHS.

Health

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies were involved in the pilot programme of using helmets to treat benign positional plagiocephaly in Yorkhill Hospital’s orthotic department.

Lewis Macdonald: Yorkhill Hospital has been undertaking initial experimental work to explore whether it had the technical capability to produce and fit helmets for treating plagiocephaly. It has not undertaken a properly constituted pilot programme.

  Five babies were treated with helmets as part of this experimental work.

Health

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the pilot programme of using helmets to treat benign positional plagiocephaly in Yorkhill Hospital’s orthotic department will be available.

Lewis Macdonald: Yorkhill Hospital has been undertaking initial experimental work to explore whether it had the technical capability to produce and fit helmets for treating plagiocephaly. It has not undertaken a properly constituted pilot programme and therefore does not intend to publish any results.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated average cost was of a first out-patient appointment at a consultant-led out-patient clinic in the last year for which figures are available.

Mr Andy Kerr: Cost information relating specifically to first out-patient appointments is not available.

  However, the average cost of a consultant out-patient appointment, based on total attendances (i.e. first and follow-up appointments) is available. This equalled £98 per attendance in financial year 2004-05.

  This includes activity and expenditure at consultation type clinics in addition to those which perform minor treatments and procedures.

Hepatitis C

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25584 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 May 2006, how many people have contracted hepatitis C in each year since the isolation and identification of the virus.

Mr Andy Kerr: There is no data available to indicate precisely how many cases of newly contracted HCV occur within a specific year since individuals may have contracted HCV many years prior to diagnosis. However, the number of cases diagnosed is shown by year in the following table, as published in the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) Weekly Report Vol 40 No 2006/19 dated 16 May 2006.

  


  Year  

  
Reports  



  Pre-1991  

  63  



  1991  

  276  



  1992  

  375  



  1993  

  528  



  1994  

  841  



  1995  

  1,142  



  1996  

  1,238  



  1997  

  1,529  



  1998  

  1,999  



  1999  

  1,954  



  2000  

  1,890  



  2001  

  1,682  



  2002  

  1,791  


2003  
1,629  



  2004  

  1,626  



  2005  

  1,600  



  Total cases reported (as at 31 December 2005): 20,163.

Immigration

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that there is more effective reception and advice for Europeans arriving in Scotland to seek work, in light of the number of Polish citizens having to use support services provided by both voluntary and statutory agencies in Edinburgh.

George Lyon: We recognise the contribution which workers from the accession states are making to our economy. However, we want to make sure that those coming to Scotland are equipped with all the information they need to live and work here. For this reason, and recognising that Polish workers account for almost two-thirds of these workers, we are producing a guide that aims to provide basic information, in Polish, about living and working in Scotland. The guide is due to be published in June and will be distributed here and in Poland, as well as being available online.

Justice

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to recover unpaid fines from the salaries of employed persons and on how many occasions such powers were exercised in the last year for which figures are available.

Cathy Jamieson: There are currently a range of options open to the courts to enforce payment of fines. These powers include being able to order that a fine may be recovered by means used to enforce non-criminal debts (known as civil diligence). One of the sanctions available under those powers is authorising the execution of an earnings arrestment against an employed person who has fallen into default on a fine.

  Information is not held centrally in respect of how many occasions unpaid fines have been recovered from the salaries of employed persons specifically. Information is, however, held in relation to the number of times the use of civil diligence generally has been ordered by the court to recover unpaid fines. I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24321 on 27 March 2006, which provides that information. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Justice

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were sentenced to custody as a result of convictions for carrying a knife in (a) Scotland, (b) Aberdeen, (c) Dundee, (d) Edinburgh, (e) Glasgow and (f) Stirling in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The following table sets out the number of custodial convictions for carrying a knife or offensive weapon in a public place, broken down as requested. New guidelines on the prosecution of knife crime will come into effect on 1 July 2006, following the end of the knife amnesty which commenced on 24 May, which will mean that those carrying or using a knife will be held in custody and may be prosecuted before a sheriff and jury, enabling sheriffs to impose a more severe punishment.

  Custodial Convictions in Scottish Courts for Handling an Offensive Weapon1, 2000-01 to 2004-05

  

Scotland
Possession of an Offensive Weapon2
Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or a Point
Total


2000-01
281
351
632


2001-02
264
363
627


2002-03
276
451
727


2003-04
264
400
664


2004-05
303
458
761


Aberdeen
 
 
 


2000-01
7
4
11


2001-02
6
7
13


2002-03
4
5
9


2003-04
7
3
10


2004-05
8
5
13


Dundee
 
 
 


2000-01
6
10
16


2001-02
8
15
23


2002-03
8
9
17


2003-04
6
11
17


2004-05
12
10
22


Edinburgh
 
 
 


2000-01
22
28
50


2001-02
15
28
43


2002-03
15
42
57


2003-04
15
39
54


2004-05
17
41
58


Glasgow
 
 
 


2000-01
135
142
277


2001-02
119
133
252


2002-03
137
197
334


2003-04
121
134
255


2004-05
132
165
297


Stirling
 
 
 


2000-01
1
1
2


2001-02
2
2
4


2002-03
2
3
5


2003-04
5
3
8


2004-05
-
3
3



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Knives cannot be identified separately from other types of offensive weapon in the data held for this crime category.

Justice

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) recorded cases of, (b) prosecutions for and (c) convictions for (i) rape and (ii) attempted rape took place in each year since 1996, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the tables. All prosecutions for rape take place in the High Court and as the data held centrally on these does not enable a breakdown below police force area that is the information given in the relevant tables.

  Number of Crimes of Rape Recorded by the Police, by Local Authority Area, 1996-97 to 2004-05

  

Local Authority
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen City
32
23
32
55
28
26
37
36
32


Aberdeenshire
15
38
29
20
21
18
33
26
22


Angus
17
20
21
22
11
16
29
25
15


Argyll and Bute
7
8
5
12
3
13
9
22
10


City of Edinburgh
74
99
118
38
96
72
97
88
130


City of Glasgow
75
82
81
90
96
123
102
113
129


Clackmannanshire
2
2
3
-
6
7
4
3
15


Dumfries and Galloway
4
19
27
39
16
20
16
26
20


Dundee City
53
38
24
28
34
37
39
24
37


East Ayrshire
5
18
12
8
11
17
15
18
16


East Dunbartshire
5
12
10
6
2
3
5
3
5


East Lothian
9
9
5
12
8
14
16
18
10


East Renfrewshire
-
5
11
3
5
5
5
3
3


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
-
-
-
1
-
4
3
15
4


Falkirk
4
4
8
3
5
13
28
26
18


Fife
12
31
30
43
46
52
73
78
83


Highland
16
20
21
36
13
19
24
36
43


Inverclyde
9
10
11
11
17
10
12
2
3


Midlothian
9
8
11
13
15
10
18
21
16


Moray
7
7
7
11
6
8
4
20
16


North Ayrshire
16
10
14
17
15
12
12
31
30


North Lanarkshire
16
18
19
21
13
15
24
35
39


Orkney Islands
2
2
-
-
-
1
1
1
3


Perth and Kinross
8
7
29
13
13
7
15
10
11


Renfrewshire
7
14
16
21
12
15
16
13
16


Scottish Borders
17
20
9
16
4
19
14
20
31


Shetland Islands
1
1
2
1
1
5
2
1
4


South Ayrshire
11
13
16
11
10
4
3
20
14


South Lanarkshire
10
12
16
13
21
16
29
38
46


Stirling
10
5
8
1
6
17
18
22
12


West Dunbartonshire
8
12
9
9
8
10
12
17
14


West Lothian
8
29
3
12
7
23
28
34
53


Scotland
469
596
607
586
549
631
743
845
900



  Number of Crimes of Attempted Rape Recorded by The police, by Local Authority Area, 1996-97 to 2004-05

  

Local Authority
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen City
7
11
12
9
8
6
3
8
8


Aberdeenshire
7
5
14
3
6
3
6
6
6


Angus
1
4
7
3
2
2
6
5
2


Argyll and Bute
2
1
1
1
1
-
7
6
5


City of Edinburgh
34
22
26
16
24
18
29
16
26


City of Glasgow
33
28
32
32
21
22
25
32
42


Clackmannanshire
-
-
1
-
1
2
-
1
1


Dumfries and Galloway
1
7
-
3
1
3
1
3
2


Dundee City
4
6
6
10
5
9
5
6
5


East Ayrshire
4
5
2
7
4
3
4
1
5


East Dunbartshire
3
2
1
1
-
-
2
1
2


East Lothian
-
2
-
2
1
5
3
2
6


East Renfrewshire
1
-
-
-
2
-
2
2
-


Eilean Siar (W.Isles)
-
3
2
-
-
1
2
1
-


Falkirk
1
1
4
3
3
4
4
2
6


Fife
10
12
8
18
7
15
12
17
19


Highland
4
4
8
8
7
4
3
4
10


Inverclyde
8
3
2
4
2
4
1
1
4


Midlothian
1
1
4
3
2
2
4
2
4


Moray
1
1
6
3
3
1
4
4
2


North Ayrshire
2
3
4
5
2
2
3
7
3


North Lanarkshire
8
12
8
10
5
18
17
14
13


Orkney Islands
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


Perth and Kinross
4
6
4
1
2
2
1
8
3


Renfrewshire
3
5
10
7
4
2
5
6
5


Scottish Borders
1
2
1
1
1
2
5
3
5


Shetland Islands
-
-
3
3
-
-
2
-
1


South Ayrshire
1
4
7
2
7
3
4
7
4


South Lanarkshire
12
4
7
5
8
13
8
11
5


Stirling
1
-
4
1
2
3
5
5
4


West Dunbartonshire
3
5
-
5
5
2
3
5
3


West Lothian
7
9
6
3
5
6
5
5
8


Scotland
164
168
190
169
141
157
181
192
209



  Persons Prosecuted for Rape Offences1, by Police Force Area, 1996-97 to 2004-05

  

Police Force Area
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


 
Number Proceeded Against
 
 
 
 


Central 
6
3
3
10
3
1
4
1
7


Dumfries and Galloway
1
1
-
3
2
2
1
2
3


Fife 
5
7
15
5
3
7
7
3
9


Grampian 
10
3
9
6
3
3
5
4
7


Lothian and Borders 
15
15
13
14
17
14
14
18
20


Northern 
2
3
1
3
-
3
5
3
8


Strathclyde 
33
26
18
15
25
22
18
35
27


Tayside 
6
5
5
2
5
7
4
13
5


Scotland2
78
63
64
58
58
59
58
80
86


 
Number with a Charge Proved
 
 
 
 


Central 
2
-
3
2
1
-
2
1
1


Dumfries and Galloway
1
1
-
1
2
1
1
-
-


Fife 
1
5
9
1
2
4
5
2
8


Grampian 
6
-
5
5
2
1
3
1
4


Lothian and Borders 
4
10
4
8
12
7
7
8
10


Northern 
-
2
1
3
-
3
4
2
3


Strathclyde 
17
10
12
10
12
18
13
17
12


Tayside 
4
4
1
-
3
3
2
7
1


Scotland2
35
32
35
30
34
37
37
38
39



  Persons Prosecuted for Attempted Rape1, by Police Force Area, 1996-97 to 2004-05

  

Police Force Area
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


 
Number Proceeded Against
 
 
 
 


Central 
3
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
2


Dumfries and Galloway
-
1
1
-
-
-
1
-
-


Fife 
3
6
1
6
4
5
2
2
1


Grampian 
2
1
2
3
-
2
3
3
2


Lothian and Borders 
5
8
3
4
5
7
3
6
4


Northern 
1
3
2
1
1
-
-
2
3


Strathclyde 
13
14
15
7
14
11
7
15
6


Tayside 
5
6
8
4
3
4
4
4
3


Scotland2
32
40
33
27
29
31
22
34
21


 
Number with a Charge Proved
 
 
 
 


Central 
3
1
-
-
1
-
2
1
1


Dumfries and Galloway
-
1
1
-
-
-
1
-
-


Fife 
3
5
-
3
4
2
1
2
1


Grampian 
1
1
-
2
-
1
1
3
1


Lothian and Borders 
4
3
2
4
4
7
2
4
4


Northern 
1
2
1
1
-
-
-
2
3


Strathclyde 
8
8
12
5
11
10
7
9
6


Tayside 
3
4
8
2
3
1
3
3
2


Scotland2
23
25
24
17
24
21
17
24
18



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes a small number of cases where police force area is unknown.

Justice

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19915 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 November 2005, how many offenders convicted of (a) rape and (b) assault with intent to rape have been given a caution in each year since 1996, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: In Scotland there is no direct equivalent to the cautions that exist in England and Wales.

Justice

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by Her Majesty’s Government regarding its deliberations on whether to sign up to the International Convention on Trafficking and, if so, what the Executive’s response was.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including human trafficking.

  The Executive and the Home Office recently undertook a joint consultation on proposals for an Action Plan on Human Trafficking. The consultation did not specifically ask whether the UK should sign up to the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings but it sought views on a number of issues, including reflection periods and residence permits. The UK Government is actively considering whether to sign the Convention.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probation officers there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by probation board.

Cathy Jamieson: Scotland does not have probation officers or probation boards.

Languages

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an update on the development of the national languages strategy and its arrangements for consulting Scots language organisations on this matter.

Patricia Ferguson: A draft of the National Languages Strategy is in preparation within the Scottish Executive. I expect that we shall publish the strategy after the summer recess, enabling Scots language organisations amongst others to comment on our proposed approach.

Ministerial Correspondence

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a statutory timescale for ministers to reply to letters from MSPs.

Ms Margaret Curran: Under the Scottish Executive Standards of Service we aim to reply to correspondence as quickly as possible and within 20 working days of receipt.

National Health Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who has the responsibility for inspecting the State Hospital, Carstairs.

Lewis Macdonald: The State Hospitals Board for Scotland is a Special Health Board and as such is subjected to the same levels of inspection as other NHS boards. It is inspected by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and by the Mental Welfare Commission. Its performance is monitored by the Scottish Executive Health Department and it is included in the annual review process in the same way as other NHS boards.

Nuclear Power

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent comments by the Prime Minister, what its next steps would be if the UK energy review recommends that new nuclear power stations be built in Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: Ministers will make their views known once the UK energy review has been made public.

Population

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the population of each of Scotland’s six cities was in each census year since 1951; what it is in each city now, and what it projects the population will be in each city in each census year up to 2051.

George Lyon: The following table sets out the information for each of the six cities for all census years back to 1951 and for the most recent year for which figures for these areas are available.

  Population of Scotland's Cities: Census Years 1951 to 2001 and 2003

  

City
1951
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
2003


Glasgow1
1,140,841
1,103,026
941,235
754,586
658,379
629,501
630,140


Edinburgh
466,761
468,361
453,584
408,822
400,632
430,082
430,440


Aberdeen
182,729
185,390
182,071
186,757
182,133
184,788
179,480


Dundee2
180,759
186,452
188,542
172,294
157,808
154,674
152,610


Inverness
28,107
29,774
34,839
38,204
40,918
40,949
40,470


Stirling3
26,962
27,551
29,776
36,640
29,768
32,673
32,710



  Notes:

  1. Includes Rutherglen and Cambuslang for all years.

  2. Includes Monifieth for all years.

  3. 1981 figure for Stirling includes Bannockburn.

  Information on future projected populations is only available for local authority and NHS board areas and not for the areas in the table.

Population

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the population was of each of Scotland’s designated new towns in each census year since 1961; what it is in each new town now, and what it projects the population will be in each town in each census year up to 2051.

George Lyon: The following table sets out the information for each of the five new towns for all Census years back to 1961 and for the most recent year for which figures for these areas are available.

  Population of Scotland's New Towns : Census Years 1961 to 2001 and 2003

  

New town
1961
1971
1981
1991
2001
2003


East Kilbride
31,970
64,118
70,454
70,579
73,796
74,320


Livingston
2,063
13,567
38,671
42,178
50,826
52,920


Cumbernauld
4,924
31,557
47,517
49,507
51,587
51,430


Glenrothes
12,750
27,355
33,639
38,320
38,679
38,720


Irvine
16,911
23,019
32,507
33,406
33,090
32,680



  Information on future projected populations is only available for local authority and NHS board areas and not for the areas in the table.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder are held in each prison and, of these, how many are aged (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 18, (iii) 19 to 25, (iv) 26 to 40 and (v) 41 and over.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is not available. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) undertakes health assessments of all prisoners on first admission into custody, which includes a mental health screen. SPS relies heavily on the provision of information direct from the prisoner in terms of past health history or diagnoses. A specific assessment in respect of autistic spectrum disorder is not routinely undertaken.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are being made to allow young offenders to transfer to the open estate when it is deemed that a young offender is suitable for such transfer.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Suitable male young offenders can be housed in Beechwood House, an open facility adjacent to Polmont.

  Suitable female young offenders can be housed within the independent living unit facility at Cornton Vale.

Public Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned any surveys into the public perception of standards of public services and, if not, what plans it has to do so.

Mr Tom McCabe: A range of surveys are used to measure both levels of satisfaction with public services and perceptions of standards. In many instances both topics are covered in the same surveys; these are described in more detail as follows;

  Scottish Household Survey (SHS)

  The publication can be accessed using the following link: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16002/14048.

  Scottish Social Attitudes Survey

  The publication can be accessed using the following link: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/18151621/16219.

  Public Attitudes to the NHS

  Two stand alone surveys of public attitudes to the NHS were commissioned by the Health Department in 2000 and 2004. The 2004 report can be accessed using the following link: www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/government/panhss-00.asp

  Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey

  The 2004 report can be accessed using the following link: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/09142637/26510

  Growing Up in Scotland

  The survey began in 2005 and the results of the 2005 survey will be published in late autumn 2006.

  The 2005 MORI Social Policy Monitor carried questions about the public’s use of, and satisfaction with, a range of local government services in its first quarter survey. These were commissioned by the FCSD ASD.

Public Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the level of satisfaction with the provision of public services.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26048 on 1 June 2006. A range of surveys are used to measure both levels of satisfaction with public services and perceptions of standards. In many instances both topics are covered in the same surveys. In addition, one-off surveys are used from time to time by different departments with specific data needs. The duty of Best Value which the Scottish Executive has placed on Scotland’s public service organisations, encourages them to consider satisfaction with the services they provide.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Regeneration

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to regenerate brownfield sites such as those in Dunfermline East.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is promoting and supporting brownfield regeneration in a number of ways. For example:

  The Executive’s planning policy gives priority to the re-use of previously developed land, where appropriate, in preference to greenfield development; and

  The Executive has a number of funding streams, including the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, which support the remediation and reuse of brownfield land.

  Communities Scotland and Fife Council have been very proactive in identifying sites in the council’s ownership for transfer to local housing associations and in the last two years 13 brownfield sites in Fife have been transferred.

Renewable Energy

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to expand the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative further, following the recent addition of £250,000 to its budget.

Nicol Stephen: We are fully committed to funding the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative. On the 16 May, I announced an additional £3 million for years 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Scottish Criminal Record Office

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24269 by Cathy Jamieson on 3 April 2006, what steps have been taken to reconcile these different views, given that the different views relate to two identifications.

Cathy Jamieson: One disagreement concerns identification of a fingerprint in a case which has been concluded and I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23156 on 10 March 2006. The other is the subject of current civil proceedings.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish Enterprise

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of reserves are held by Scottish Enterprise; where they are held, and what the process is for enabling Scottish Enterprise to access these funds.

Nicol Stephen: Details of Scottish Enterprise’s 2004-05 reserves are published in their annual accounts (Scottish Parliament Information Centre Bib. number 37329). The level of their 2005-06 reserves will be reported in this year’s annual accounts.

  Scottish Enterprise can access reserves at any time, although not all are immediately accessible. In doing so, Scottish Enterprise is required to remain within its total resource budget.

Scottish Enterprise

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the projected £30 million overspend in Scottish Enterprise’s budget for 2005-06 related to the "deliberate strategy to encourage new project proposals in each local enterprise area", referred to by the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning on 30 March 2006 ( Official Report c. 24611).

Nicol Stephen: The report prepared for the Scottish Executive by KPMG, which is available on the Executive’s website gives a full and detailed explanation of the reasons for Scottish Enterprise’s 2005-06 overspend. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Enterprise/16858/KPMGreport .

Scottish Executive Performance

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-25710 and S2W-25711 by Mr Tom McCabe on 17 May 2006 stating that the information on statutory performance indicators (SPIs) is not held centrally, whether the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform has been advised that information related to SPIs is held in the Executive’s briefing exchange (Brix) system and whether, in light of this, he is now in a position to provide the information requested.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-25710 and S2W-25711 on 17 May 2006. As made clear, information on statutory performance indicators is publicly available and can be found on the Audit Scotland website at www.audit-scotland.gov.uk .

  Performance Brix notes previously included salient points from the statutory performance indicators. However, the approach to the performance Brix notes is currently under consideration. In the meantime full performance information on local authorities for 2004-05, and for previous years, can be accessed through Audit Scotland’s website.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish Executive Records

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25007 by Patricia Ferguson on 8 May 2006, what the subject matters were of the 60 files on which 100-year closures were imposed.

Patricia Ferguson: The subject matters of the files on which a 100-year closure was imposed are listed in the following table. When the National Archives of Scotland were gathering this information, they discovered a group of State Hospital patients’ files which had been omitted from the total I gave in the answer to question S2W-25007 on 8 May 2006. The total number of files subject to 100-year closures is therefore 137.

  


  Year  
  Subject  

No. of files  



  1962  
Adoption and emigration of illegitimate children  
1  



  1988-89  

  Deaths of Children in Care: Individual cases 324-329: reports and assessments  
1  



  1991  

  Orkney Inquiry: Establishment of the inquiry into the removal of children from Orkney  

  
1  



  1934-36  

  Adoption: Requests from individuals for changes to surname in birth register.  

  
1  



  1982-87  

  Illegitimate Child: Acknowledgement of Paternity under s18: Correspondence with local registrars on individual cases  

  
1  



  1987-88  

  Illegitimate Child of Married Woman: Correspondence with local registrars on individual cases  

  
2  



  1988  

  Stillbirth: General, including correspondence on individual cases  

  
2  



  1974-87  

  False Information: General correspondence with local registrars on false entries, including bigamy  

  
1  



  1948-58  

  Adoption: Individual Cases: Requests from individuals to change their, or their children's, surname in the birth register, and other enquiries regarding adoption  

  
7  



  1968-84  

  Adoption Acts: General: Requests for searches of the Adopted Children Register and extracts from the Register of Births, and other enquiries relating to the registration of the birth of subsequently adopted children  

  
11  



  1941  

  Lists of Enumerators for 1941 Census: Districts 1-901: Lists names, occupations, residence and some personal comments about suitability  
5  


1933-2003  

  State Patient: Case Files  
104  


 

  Total  
137

Scottish Water

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether elastomer injection techniques have been trialled by Scottish Water to stop leakage from water supplies.

Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with his response.

Speed Cameras

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the installation of speed cameras has had on the number of casualties in areas within the range of such cameras.

Cathy Jamieson: The independent Four-Year Evaluation Report on the National Safety Camera Programme published by PA Consulting and UCL (December 2005) concludes that safety cameras throughout the UK continue to make a significant and valuable contribution to the reduction of casualties at camera sites.

  The headline figure for personal injury collisions between April 2000 and March 2004 fell by around 22% in total, which represents a reduction of 4,200 personal injuries at camera sites. Approximately 85% (3,590) of this reduction occurred in urban areas while 15% (639) occurred in rural areas.

  This report can be obtained from the Department for Transport website www.dft.gov.uk.

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people aged 17 to 24 took part in sport at least twice a week in each of the last three years and how this was measured.

Patricia Ferguson: The rolling average for the period 2002-04 shows that 43% of people aged 17 to 24 took part in sport more than twice a week. These figures pre-date the introduction of Active Schools and it must be recognised that it will take time for the programme to impact on this age group.

  The method of measurement for this figure is the same as that set out in response to question S2W-14291 on 17 March 2005. Sportscotland hopes to be able to publish shortly, statistics on participation for the period up to 2005.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Sport

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with Aberdeen City Council about the council’s investigation into the possible construction of a community stadium.

Patricia Ferguson: No.

Tourism

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it is undertaking with tourism stakeholder groups on the performance of VisitScotland.

Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland conducts an annual stakeholder research study to gauge stakeholders’ views on its performance. The most recent study carried out, in March of this year, showed that 95% of stakeholders agreed that the work of VisitScotland makes a positive impact on the economic development of Scotland.